The contract will be carried out in two phases with work on the first 12 month phase beginning immediately and will focus on creating the facility’s main building.

Muirfield’s existing residents, currently accommodated in a period stone building on the site, will be moved into the newly built section of the home upon completion.

A second eight-month phase includes further construction around the façade of home’s existing building on Gullane’s Main Street. This will be joined to the phase one section of the build, completing the facility.

Work on the project began last year with the demolition of the neighbouring Bissets Hotel, which was acquired to enable the expansion of the existing Muirfield site.

Edinburgh-based Randolph Hill, which acquired Muirfield in 2008, will invest around £8m on the overall project which will expand the facility to 60 high specification rooms.

Peter McCormick, managing director of Randolph Hill Nursing Homes Group, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Muir Construction, which has been appointed after a competitive tender process amongst other reputable east of Scotland-based contractors.

“Muir is a long-established and respected firm with a great track record in building care homes and other challenging projects of this scale.

“The redevelopment plans for Muirfield will transform the home and really benefit its residents with premium quality facilities and rooms which are much larger compared to typical nursing home standards.

“The project is also good news for local economy, securing the long term employment for our 50 existing staff members and creating an additional 30 new jobs on the site.”